Phnom Penh – Cambodia on Wednesday confirmed its first case of swine flu, according to a joint statement released by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO). The statement said the infected person was a 16-year-old US girl who arrived in the country as part of a student group on June 19.

She presented symptoms on the day after her arrival and sought treatment at a clinic on Monday.

The statement said test results on Tuesday revealed she was infected with the H1N1 strain of the virus and she was being kept under medical supervision.

The other members of the group were also being monitored for symptoms.

Cambodian Health Minister Mam Bun Heng said Cambodia was well-prepared for an outbreak of the virus.

“With the virus now circulating globally its eventual arrival in Cambodia was expected,” he said. “We are pleased that the systems have been put in place and have worked in identifying and isolating this case.”

According to the latest WHO figures, the virus has infected 52,160 people worldwide and killed 231